The town, ideally situated in a magnificent mountain valley, boasts a mild Mediterranean climate and is the ideal destination from which to explore the Winelands, Cape Town, the Peninsula and the many tourist attractions that the area has to offer.

Stellenbosch is without doubt one of the prettiest little towns in the whole of South Africa. Situated at the head of the Eerste (First) River Valley, it was one of the first valleys to be settled in. The area is full of charming scenes and rich in history. The towns, villages and farmlands contain finely preserved examples of one of the most serene forms of domestic architecture found anywhere in the world – the Cape-Dutch style.

Today’s Stellenbosch still pays homage to culture and heritage, as the town has done since its humble Dutch origins. Each new generation of architects, buildings and town planners used the inspiration of their predecessors to ensure that the aesthetic values of Stellenbosch remained intact. The result is that to this day, the influence of many architectural styles over the last three centuries are to be seen in the meticulously restored buildings throughout the town.

From the whitewashed Anglican church and museums surrounding the emerald green Braak – Stellenbosch’s historical centre – to the myriad Cape Dutch farmhouses and the 19th century university buildings, the town exudes history and good taste.

This visual effect of Stellenbosch is enhanced, compounded by the fact that the town is surrounded by spectacular mountains and some of the world’s most famous vineyards adding to the town and region’s attractiveness to the local and international tourist.

Another major characteristic for Stellenbosch being such a popular destination is its vibrancy. Stellenbosch is in an idyllic setting, but is also a bustling student town filled with busy people pursuing endless professions, as well as students studying at the world-renowned Stellenbosch University.

Surrounding area

The town of Stellenbosch is surrounded by sprawling vineyards, with over a 140 Wineries open to the public. Cape Town city centre is a mere 40km from Stellenbosch and the International Airport a 25 minute drive. The beautiful towns of Somerset West, Franschhoek and Paarl are our neighbours.

What to do and see

When you are in Stellenbosch it is well worth spending an hour or two walking the historic trail. If you are not that keen on walking – specialist tour operators and guides offer the following tours, Winelands, Cultural Township Tours, Cape Town & Surrounds, Cape Point, Whale Watching in nearby town of Hermanus, Adventure (Shark Cage diving, Abseil, Bungee jumping, etc.) Garden Route ……. and many more.

What to eat

Stellenbosch has some of the top rated restaurants in the country and offer a wide variety to suit all tastes and budget. The town is also well known for its coffee shop culture with many small coffee shops and deli’s located in quaint old buildings and along the oak lined streets of Stellenbosch.

Where to stay

Stellenbosch offers a variety of accommodation establishments for the visitor to select from. Please view the Accommodation page or go to www.stellenboschtourism.co.za for more information.

Online Registration Now OpenOpen - Pre Conference Workshops on 15 October 2017.
Prof John Cherry accepts invitation to attend and address GWD2017
Prof Bruce Misstear, Associate Professor and a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin has accepted to be a keynote speaker at the GWD2017.
Prof. Randy Stotler of the University of Kansas will be joining Prof. John Cherry and Prof. Bruce Misstear as a keynote speaker at GWD2017.
Prof Fifield who is at the Australian National University has confirmed that he will be one of our keynote speakers at the Conference.

Important Dates

25 July 2017
Deadline to submit the full papers that have been accepted.

31 July 2017
Deadline for Early Bird Registration
Deadline for Confirmed authors of abstracts to register and pay the conference fees.